Team news

David Vaughan and Matty Cash both stepped up their recovery from injury by featuring for the Under 23s on Friday while Jamie Ward is also nearing a return to action. Matt Mills is available again having sat out the win over Sheffield United through suspension.

Should Ben Osborn feature for The Reds, it will be his 150th competitive appearance for the club.

From the opposition

Derby boss Gary Rowett said he is looking for his side to be more consistent in order to kick-start their season.

Speaking Derby's official website, he said: "These games have a great atmosphere and the type of game that, as much as you want to win it, you certainly don't want to lose it either.

"That's without being negative, of course, because that brings pressure on any manager because of the magnitude of the game. He will certainly go out and be positive.

"Both teams are in a similar scenario and have been inconsistent so far this season. I think ourselves and Forest have been looking for that moment to kick-start our seasons I suppose."

He added: "I have a healthy respect for Mark and I have spoken to him on numerous occasions.

"I've come across him when we've been on courses together and I have also faced him and his teams many times before.

"He is good guy and come Sunday lunchtime we will desperately trying to get the better of each other; it will be game-on but respectful."

One to watch - Tom Lawrence

Derby spent big in the summer to bring Tom Lawrence to Pride Park after the Welshman was in fine form on loan at Ipswich Town last year.

He spent the international break with the Welsh squad, scoring his first goal in the win over Georgia, and will be looking to put behind international heartbreak when he returns to club action on Sunday.

The forward, who began his career at Manchester United, is yet to find the target for The Rams but is certainly one for The Reds to keep an eye on.

Derby 2-0 Forest

Nottingham Forest suffered defeat in the East Midlands derby as they were beaten 2-0 at Pride Park this afternoon.

A goal early in each half from Matej Vydra and David Nugent condemned The Reds to a loss against their local rivals as the home side took the derby-day spoils.

Mark Warburton made two changes to the side that beat Sheffield United before the international break as Joe Worrall and Tendayi Darikwa were replaced by Barrie McKay and Eric Lichaj with the latter making his first league start of the season.

Former Derby man Jamie Ward made the matchday squad for the first time in the current campaign as he took his place on the bench after recovering from a calf injury.

The home side made the perfect start to the contest as they took the lead with 24 seconds on the clock. Vydra, recalled to the side by Gary Rowett, ran all the way across the front of the Forest penalty area before lashing a powerful strike beyond Jordan Smith and into the corner of the net.

The Reds responded well to going behind with Daryl Murphy having two sights of goal. The Republic of Ireland striker tested Scott Carson with a low effort before he headed Eric Lichaj’s cross inches wide of the far post minutes later.

Vydra could have had his and Derby’s second goal of the game on 23 minutes. Forest struggled to clear a corner from inside their own penalty area and the Czech striker latched on to Richard Keogh’s cross but was denied by a terrific block from Lichaj.

Forest were seeing more of the ball and McKay had two opportunities to bring them level ten minutes before the break. The Scot lashed a shot against the post before an even better chance presented itself moments later. McKay raced on to a long ball over the top of the Derby back four and went one-on-one with Carson but the goalkeeper stood firm to deny the winger and deflect the shot behind.

Four minutes into the second half and Forest had another chance to restore parity. Some neat build-up play inside the penalty area saw Ben Osborn lay the ball across to Jason Cummings but he turned the ball over the bar from close range.

Warburton’s men were made to pay for their profligacy in front of goal as Derby doubled their lead soon after. Vydra raced through the middle of the park, played the ball through to Nugent and he slotted the ball past Smith’s outstretched hand and into the far corner.

It was an entertaining start to the second half with chances coming for both sides. Kieran Dowell and McKay both saw shots well saved by Carson while Tom Lawrence curled an effort well wide of the target at the other end.

Warburton made a double substitution on the hour mark with McKay and Dowell replaced by Ward and Zach Clough as The Reds sought to find a way back into the contest.

Smith had to be alert on 63 minutes to prevent Forest from falling further behind. After Cummings had brought down Johnny Russell on the right-hand side, Lawrence lashed a free-kick towards the top corner which The Reds’ keeper had to shovel over the crossbar.

Derby had a chance to make it a three-goal margin of victory with five minutes to play. Having worked some space inside the Forest penalty area, the home side moved the ball to Lawrence at the back post but his low drive was palmed away by Smith.

That was to be the final opportunity of the game for either side as Derby ran out 2-0 winners and Forest now look to bounce back at home to Burton Albion on Saturday.